UICOMR employees recognized for their dedication, hard work and years of service

Amazing Race group photo

Several of our staff and faculty members were recognized for celebrating 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 and 35 years of service during the Employee Recognition Presentation on Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2025. It was the highlight of Employee Recognition Week, which featured several events and activities for staff and faculty members.

Award Winners

 

Pharmacy Rockstar Award:

•Paige Rauh, Class Coordinator, Regional Pharmacy Program: Rockford

Distinguished Staff Winners:

•Elizabeth Haring, administrative nurse I, Correctional Health Care Services

•Andrea Christenson, assistant chief accountant in the Office of Financial Affairs

Team Award:

The Fun Committee

Dean’s Award:

 •Daliah Brown, administrative aide in the Office of Research

Years of Service

Five Years of Service

Oday Alsarraf, MD, PhD, clinical assistant professor, Department of Health Sciences Education, College of Medicine

Christa Crumb, administrative nurse III, UI Health Mile Square Health Center-L.P. Johnson Rockford, College of Medicine

Kara Fess, MD, director, Rural Medical Education Program, National Center for Rural Health Professions, College of Medicine Rockford

Joseph Garry, MD, FAAFP, FACSM, head, Professor of Clinical Family Medicine, Clinical Physician, Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine Rockford,

Elizabeth Haring, administrative nurse II, Correctional Health Care Services, Department of Family and Community Medicine College of Medicine Rockford

Robert Hillwig, MD, clinical assistant professor, Phase 1 Pathology Course Coordinator, Department of Health Sciences Education College of Medicine Rockford

Bill Schnidt, senior business manager, Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine Rockford

Heather Sharp, nurse practitioner, Medical Evaluation Response Initiative Team (MERIT), Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine Rockford

Sara Silvers, program services aide, UI Health Mile Square Health Center-L.P. Johnson Rockford, College of Medicine Rockford=

Rhonda Verzal, MD, FAAFP, director Family Medicine Residency Program, associate professor of Clinical Family and Community Medicine, Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine Rockford

Ten Years of Service

 

Stephanie Calato, MS, LCPC, assistant dean for Student Affairs, Office of Student Affairs, clinical associate, Department of Health Sciences Education, College of Medicine Rockford

Erin Carson, PharmD, clinical assistant professor, Regional Pharmacy Program: Rockford, UIC Retzky College of Pharmacy

Carrie Foust, director of Communications, Office of Communications, College of Medicine Rockford

Marianne Pop, PharmD, clinical pharmacist, Regional Pharmacy Program: Rockford, UIC Retzky College of Pharmacy

Claudia Rodriguez, certified medical assistant, UI Health Mile Square Health Center-L.P. Johnson Rockford, College of Medicine Rockford

Mary Sperry, licensed practical nurse II, UI Health Mile Square Health Center-L.P. Johnson Rockford, College of Medicine Rockford

Fifteen Years of Service

 

Douglas Jankowski, pharmacy laboratory instructional coordinator, Regional Pharmacy Program: Rockford, UIC Retzky College of Pharmacy

Marissa King, senior associate director of Finance, Regional Pharmacy Program: Rockford, UIC Retzky College of Pharmacy, Reg Pharmacy Program: Rockford

Alex Meenan, IT support associate, Office of Information Technology, College of Medicine Rockford

Korrin Meier, MD, clinical associate professor, Department of Health Sciences Education, College of Medicine Rockford

Allison Schriever, PharmD, clinical assistant professor, Regional Pharmacy Program: Rockford, UIC Retzky College of Pharmacy

Geoffrey, Tsaras, MD, clinical associate professor, Department of Medicine and Medical Specialties, College of Medicine Rockford

Twenty Years of Service

 

Andrea Christenson, assistant chief accountant, Office of Financial Affairs, College of Medicine Rockford

Dawn Gregory, business manager, Office of Financial Affairs, College of Medicine Rockford

Valerie Kidd, administrative nurse III, Correctional Health Care Services, Department of Family and Community Medicine

Helen Link, APNP, teaching associate, Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine Rockford

Aaron Shiels, MD, clinical associate professor, Department of Medicine and Medical Specialties, College of Medicine Rockford

Therese Trenhaile, MD, Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine Rockford

Heidi Usrey, reimbursement coding representative, UI Health Mile Square Health Center-L.P. Johnson Rockford, College of Medicine Rockford

Twenty-Five Years of Service

 

Monica Ackerman, business manager, National Center for Rural Health Professions, College of Medicine Rockford

Lee Carlson, building operating engineer, Office of Physical Plant, College of Medicine Rockford

Donett Howard, image processing technician III, UI Health Mile Square Health Center-L.P. Johnson Rockford, College of Medicine Rockford

Cindy Lopez, medical education program specialist, Family Medicine Residency Program, Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine Rockford

Heather Sowl, medical office associate, UI Health Mile Square Health Center-L.P. Johnson Rockford, College of Medicine Rockford

Vicki Weidenbacher-Hoper, MSW, associate director, Rural Health Workforce & Center, National Center for Rural Health Professions, College of Medicine Rockford

Thirty Years of Service

 

Radha Ramaswamy, senior library specialist, Crawford Library of the Health Sciences-Rockford, University Library

Thirty-Five Years of Service

 

Raymond Davis, MD, clinical associate professor, medical director Medical Evaluation Response Initiative Team (MERIT), Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine Rockford